CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — A Douglas County judge is under fire for granting probation in two separate cases within a week, including one involving a convicted stalker and assailant.
District Attorney for the 23rd Judicial District George Brauchler told Denver7 that he's disappointed by the ruling, but he never specifically identified the judge.
“I don’t think judges exist in this jurisdiction to do what the DA says. That doesn’t make sense. I don’t think that [ruling] protects defendants appropriately either,” Brauchler said. “My respect for the bench doesn’t mean that I like all of their decisions, and in this particular case, I think this one is too risky for the public, and I don’t think it honors what took place with the victim.”
Denver7 confirmed through court records that Brauchler was talking about Victoria Klingensmith—her most recent probation decision involved 31-year-old Taylor Burrows.
Burrows was found guilty in court of stalking and assault of his ex-fiance, Aubrey Cadwell.
“There's no way that we are looking at this man with this type of history, this type of danger, and saying that he's okay to walk among us,” Cadwell said.
Brauchler said probation officers have classified Burrows as a “maximum risk to re-offend” and said both Jefferson and Arapahoe Counties have denied him from their community corrections, which are designed as an alternative to incarceration.
Even so, Burrows was not given a prison sentence. He’s out on probation, and Cadwell is scared.
“There’s so much to this, and it is so disturbing, and he gets to walk among us,” she said. “How? How are we possibly going to let him get away with this? What is the turning point? To let him re-offend? Is that what we’re waiting for?”
One of Brauchler’s concerns with the case is what message it sends to survivors like Cadwell.
“There are a lot more victims out there who do not come forward. One of the reasons they don't come forward is that they think the system can't protect them. This case reinforces that belief,” Brauchler said.”
Denver7 did reach out to Klingensmith to get answers on why she felt probation was the best option, and if she believes the community is safe. At the time of this publication, we have not heard back.
